My 50th birthday GT500 or ZL1?

[ffrcobra_65]

You said Bad ass "muscle" car and you are choosing between a ZL1 and GT500. Well, muscle for muscle, 580hp vs 650hp. Current gt500 has 550hp, new one this summer will have 650. The truth is, ZL1 or GT500, either one will have way more muscle than you can ever use on the street. Good luck.

[69NMYSS]

Originally Posted by Coolidge

I'm guessing you stopped reading my post before you got to the part where I said the ZL1 is, "literally stuffed bumper to bumper with modern muscle car high tech advancements they really did a hell of a nice job on this car"

your right, I looked right over that, sorry.

But GM had to keep the price in check. No way they could provide a hand built forged motor with all the other technology they put in it, plus all necessary coolers for track without going over $60k. The GT500 decided to focus on the motor and neglect the rest of the car. I still cant believe they didnt improve the shoes. No way those narrow rubbers are going to hold 650hp without a lot of work. They both have there advantages/disadvantages.

[fielderLS3]

Both are great cars. Just as an aside, though, there's nothing wrong with pushrods. And if that does bother you that much, you probably won't care much for the GT500's live axle.

"Old fashioned" doesn't necessarily mean bad, particularly if it is something that never goes out of style, like good old-fashioned muscle. I'd call it "timeless."

[Coolidge]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

What if I told you the LSA in the Camaro underwent numerous 24-hour endurance track-testing events, a series of 600 clutch-dumps, and exceeded 270 consecutive hours of WOT testing without failure?

I would say that is quite impressive, was that WOT test under load?

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

The supercharger is actually an inverted design (in case you didn't know), which means the rotors are in the valley of the engine.

Okay you sent me to the internets to research this, I found this video and see what you are saying. So that's a next gen supercharger really. I'm already feeling better about the engine.

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

The automatic is an awesome piece in this car! They've configured it to "pre-load" the hydraulics of the next gear, so paddle-shifting is instant. It's a good choice!

Do the shifters move with the steering wheel or are they stationary? My brothers and I grew up on forumula 1 racing so we are paddle shifter fans.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Coolidge

I would say that is quite impressive, was that WOT test under load?

Okay you sent me to the internets to research this, I found this video and see what you are saying. So that's a next gen supercharger really. I'm already feeling better about the engine.





Do the shifters move with the steering wheel or are they stationary? My brothers and I grew up on forumula 1 racing so we are paddle shifter fans.

That's a wonderful video, I remember crossing paths with that one a while back. It allows the intercooler to be much more efficient, as well as increasing torque with long "runners", and can be powered and position the throttle up front for a much less restrictive intake path.

I imagine the test included varying loads...but they don't specify.

The paddles move with the wheel. They're mounted on the backside of the three and nine-o'clock spokes.

[slick rick]

Such a dilemma

[Coolidge]

Originally Posted by 69NMYSS

your right, I looked right over that, sorry.

But GM had to keep the price in check. No way they could provide a hand built forged motor with all the other technology they put in it, plus all necessary coolers for track without going over $60k. The GT500 decided to focus on the motor and neglect the rest of the car. I still cant believe they didnt improve the shoes. No way those narrow rubbers are going to hold 650hp without a lot of work. They both have there advantages/disadvantages.

No worries man. Agree on your GT500 points, it strikes me that Ford neglected the rest of the car because there wasn't any competitive reason for them to do anything about it before now. I look for them to modernize the rest of the car in 2014 but sadly it sounds like they are also going to modernize the style, so long retro look. My gut feeling says its going to be ugly like the newer Caddy and Benz blech!

[mr02Z/28]

Buy a Kia or Hyundai instead..... You might need better fuel economy at your age..... and Less Adrenaline....... LoL, just kidding..

[Coolidge]

Originally Posted by mr02Z/28

Buy a Kia or Hyundai instead..... You might need better fuel economy at your age..... and Less Adrenaline....... LoL, just kidding..

LOL so many comedians out tonight. Hold on one second let me shift my 4x4 Dodge Hemi into low and crawl over top of your Z28, there you go a set of authentic black stripes, no need to thank me.

[25thanniversary]

ZR1 would be better in my book

[mmarx82]

Lol I think this thread is funny, I'm in no way trying to be rude here. Your 50, why are you trying to get us to make up your mind? Of course most of the people here are going to tell you get a ZL1. My guess is you probably have a thread on a Mustang site too where they are telling you to wait and get the 2013 GT500 because it gonna have 650HP. I'm not even 30 yet (Oct) but even I know to get what's gonna make you happy. I have this feeling that whatever your gonna get your not going to appreciate like most of us would, I hope I'm wrong about that. Anyways I wish you luck with determining what you want.

[hognutz]

pushrods work if you hung up on pusrods you backin up. my LS7 spins 7k at 7L or 427 cubes all day long.

the car next to you or the 1320 or the circle don't care if the car has pushrods. the amount of dual overhead cars I have chewed up is endless.

forged is only an issue if you don't tune the car right or you want to go over 750hp or so. they say 800 but I am not one who pushes things.

now on the the cars.

1. do yo have a budget cap?
2 do you like corners or are you a strait line only type guy?
3. is ride comfort a concert at all?
4. do you prefer either one styling wise?

my .02 is if you are a quartmiler the GT500 might be the better choice if it is not too expensive. if you like balance and turns I think the Zl1 will shine. if you like the looks of one over the other that is the one you should really buy as they are both really fast.

I mean this is a chevy forum but they are both pretty bad ass cars. all of the shortcummings of the old generation GT500 have been touched on with the right options. I think the ride will be harsher in the GT500 though to make it run with the ZL1. they don't have the system to be able to handle like that and ride well at the same time.

[evolve]

I think hognutz hit the nail on the head.

[chrisc32]

Boss 302 Or Shelby gt350
Can't go wrong